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Just shy of the year anniversary of the original Resistance instalment, Resistance: Retribution is now at hand. SCEA Bend has taken over the Resistance franchise for the time being to give you a portable third-person experience of alternate history 1951, attempting to bridge the gap between Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2.

The High Road to Revenge

Nothing else matters to newly appointed Maquis mercenary James Grayson other than killing Chimera with extreme prejudice. I can't blame the soldier, however: losing his brother at a Chimeran conversion facility and ending up in jail on false grounds is enough to make any man go mad, much less trigger-happy. Grayson's only concern is to add to the 27 razed conversion facilities he has already blown the hell out of and up the Chimera body count. Throughout the game you work with the mysterious Maquis faction to do just that.

Bend keeps it safe by pitting you against an array of Chimera which are mostly recycled from previous Resistance instalments. The most annoying Chimera, the Boilers, are unfortunately back in all their thick-skinned, "ugly as shite" glory. Their thick skin makes killing them a somewhat of a pain and when they get in close proximity of the player their heads explode, dealing out a good portion of damage and ire.

To further the game's plot, you receive both a narration of Grayson's story via various characters as well as a diary entry from the man himself that appears during loading screens. The crafty placement almost forces you to read it, helping fill in the blanks as to what is going on both in the game and in our tortured protagonist's head.

Shoot, Reload, Repeat

Most of the actions you need to complete are automated for you. Aim assist is back from retirement and the non-replenishing life bar is brings back the need for health packs. If you are more adept to firing free-hand and don't take kindly to the game's auto-aim system, pressing up on the D-pad quickly frees you from locking on to enemies. Taking cover is an automated action as well and makes duels with Chimera a joy. Veterans to shooters and casual gamers alike will be pleased at the happy medium Retribution finds. Checkpoints are placed immaculately throughout each level creating an incredibly user-friendly environment never forcing you to begrudgingly repeat levels from beginning to end.

A lot of the weapons are recycled from Fall of Man and Resistance 2 — which isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially considering that the L206 LAARK, Light Anti-Armor Rocket is back in action. Having second thoughts about a shot you made with the LAARK? No problem! Pressing the L button pauses the launched rocket mid-air and enables you to select a new target. After you press L, pressing the R button detonates the rocket instantly and pressing L again sends the rocket back on its merry little way.

But, alas — with the good there is always the bad. After long hours spent playing the game, environments begin to blend together in the monotony of the gameplay. Overall, the surroundings lack specific qualities that set them apart from each other. Each mission seems so much like the last. For example, you generally start with a team, get separated from them at some point by falling into a large hole, and singlehandedly take down a Chimeran facility. As I droned on I had only one objective in mind and that was uncovering the story that began to suck me in.

All in all, Retribution may be an acquired taste to those new to the franchise, but there's no argument — this is a must-own title for fans of the first two instalments

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

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